The 'real deal' on human trafficking

KINGSTON – It is known that along Highway 401, Kingston is a stop for human traffickers. Kingston Police continue to work with hotels in the area to try to help front desk staff identify the signs of a human trafficking victim and are in the midst of a "snowballing" investigation that has revealed the victims are coming straight from Kingston and the surrounding area.

While the majority of these investigations are kept under wraps as they are ongoing, one Harrowsmith man and Ongwanada’s Spiritual Care Department is hosting a human trafficking information night for the public to come and learn about the exploitative crime.

"It is such a dark topic and you want to cast a fear in people, the event is really about awareness," Doug van der Horden, organizer of the event, said. "Know the signs, know that these guys are out there. When something doesn’t feel right, or if your gut is saying something is off, listen to it."

Van der Horden is a Child and Youth Worker and Adolescent Care Worker at Ernestown Secondary School in Odessa. He started to pay attention to human trafficking about a decade ago and hasn’t been able to shake it. Through research and working with the police, van der Horden has gained expertise on the topic and now gives presentations to colleges, police and schools, including his own.

"For me, 10 years ago I came to this realization that this stuff’s happening and it made me very uncomfortable," van der Horden said. "For me it’s about getting the awareness out there and not casting a deep fear in people, but just an awareness. Listen to your gut and know there’s people you can call."

To assist van der Horden in the presentation, two Kingston Police officers who work in the Street Crime Unit will be in attendance to give a local perspective.

"I know talking to one of the guys that things locally are just snowballing," van der Horden said. "It’s become such a huge thing, even for them. A couple victims come forward, they work the case, which leads to two more, which leads to two more, so it’s ongoing and increasing as they dig deeper.

"I’m hoping on Wednesday those officers will be able to give an update on what they’re dealing with locally."

The event, entitled Human Trafficking: The Real Deal, will be held at the Ongwanada Resource Centre at 191 Portsmouth Ave., from 6:30-8:30 p.m. It is open to the public and no registration is required. Refreshments will be served.